Hinge structure



Nov. 5, 1968 T. B. ANTHONY 3,408,685

HINGE STRUCTURE Filed July 13, 1966 United States Patent Oflice 3,408,685 Patented Nov. 5, 1968 3,408,685 HINGE STRUCTURE Tad B. Anthony, Newton, Iowa, assignor to The Maytag Company, Newton, Iowa, a corporation of Delaware Filed July 13, 1966, Ser. No. 564,899 Claims. (Cl. 16-169) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A hinge structure is disclosed in the form of a ball and socket type hinge structure wherein the ball or pivot element has unequal dimensions and is freely insertable between the hinged members and then movable to an engaged position. Retainer means may be assembled to the pivot element to prevent accidental removal of the pivot element.

This invention relates to a hinge structure and more particularly to a hinge arrangement having means for inserting and retaining an intermediate pivot element.

In prior art ball and socket type hinge structures having at least one hinge including an intermediate pivot element, such as a ball for example, the pivot element, or one of the movable members, is deformed to permit assembly of the hinge. In such a hinge, the process is reversible and thus permits relatively easy disassembly of the hinge through a similar deformation.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved hinge having a novel pivot element and retainer means.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved ball and socket type hinge structure having a novel pivot element for permitting assembly of the hinge without deformation of the mating parts and further having retainer means for locking the pivot element in the operative position.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved ball and socket type hinge structure having a nonresilient pivot element insertable between the adjacent cooperating hinge portions and rotatable to an operatively engaged portion and further having retainer means engageable with the pivot element for locking it in the operative position.

The present invention achieves the above objectives in a hinge structure that pivotally mounts a movable panel on a relatively stationary panel by means of a pair of ball and socket type hinges, one of which includes an intermediate pivot element. The pivot element is constructed with unequal dimensions and is insertable between adjacent hinge portions and rotatable into operative engagement with the facing depressions formed in the hinge portions at the pivot axis. A retainer is engageable with the pivot element to prevent movement of the pivot element from the operative position.

Further details of construction and operation of the hinge structure and further objects and advantages there: of will become evident as the description proceeds and from an examination of the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and in which similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views, wherein:

FIGURE 1 shows an over-all view of the hinge structure for pivotally joining a pair of panels;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of one of the hinges and shows the intermediate pivot element in the inserted but disengaged position;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view similar to FIGURE 2 and shows the pivot element in the operatively engaged position; and

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the pivot element taken along line 44 of FIGURE 3 and shows the retaining member in locking position.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, there is shown a hinge structure for pivotally mounting a movable door or lid 10 on a relatively stationary cabinet panel 11 as in a laundry appliance, for example. In the preferred embodiment, the cabinet panel 11 includes a pair of spaced-apart hinge portions 14, 15 with one hinge portion including a substantially spherical depression 16 facing a similar depression 17 along the pivot axis 19. The door panel 10 also includes a pair of hinge portions 20, 21 having similar depressions 24, 25 facing in opposite directions along the pivot axis 19. This arrangement therefore provides two pairs of cooperating juxtaposed hinge portions 14, 20 and 15, 21 adapted to receive intermediate pivot elements for completing the hinge structure.

In a prior art construction, a pair of resilient ball members are used at the two hinge locations and the door panel is assembled by deforming the resilient balls to move the ball members into their respective depressions at the two pivot locations. In the present invention, however, one pivot element 26 is in the form of a substantialiy rigid ball member insertable between the facing depressions 17, 25. The rigid ball 26 at the one hinge location 29, in the instant embodiment, may be eliminated by replacing the depression of one of the panels with a protrusion mating with the other depression to form a rigidly interlocking pivotal connection.

The other pivot element 30 of the instant invention is in the form of a nonresilient spherical segment. Stated differently, the pivot element 30 is a ball or sphere with at least one flat side 31.

As will be more fully described hereinafter, this spherical segment is insertable between the adjacent hinge portions at the hinge location 34 and is rotatable for moving spherical pivot portions 35, 36 into operative engagement with the depressions 16, 24 of the juxtaposed cooperative hinge portions 14, 20. A spring retainer 39 is engageable with the pivot element 30 and extends into the space between the hinge portions 14, 20 for preventing rotation of the pivot element 30 from the operatively engaged position.

The construction and function of the pivot element is more specifically shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. The pivot element, as shown in FIGURE 2, is in a position of engagement with the depression 24 of the door panel hinge portion 20. The pivot element 30 is in the form of a spherical segment or a sphere having one segment removed to form a large flat 31 that is positioned substantially perpendicular to the pivot axis 19 and parallel to the walls surrounding the depressions 16, 24 upon initial insertion of the pivot element 30 between the adjacent hinge portions 14, 20. A second flat 40, substantially parallel to the first flat 31, provides a contact surface for the spring retainer 39 as will be more fully described hereinafter. The pivot element 30, therefore, includes a spherical surface which provides a pair of pivot portions 35, 36 engageable with the depressions 16, 24 of the cooperating hinge portions 14, 20 upon rotation of the pivot element 30 into an operatively engaged position. The pivot element 30 further includes, because of the large fiat portion 31, a relatively long dimension in the direction parallel to the walls of the spaced hinge portions 14, 20 and a shorter dimension along the pivot axis 19 as shown in FIGURE 2. The diameter of the sphere, or the long dimension between the pivot portions 35, 36 is established to provide interconnecting pivotal engagement with both depressions 16, 24 as shown in FIGURE 3. The short dimension is established to facilitate clearance with one hinge portion 14 when engaged with the other hinge portion 20 as shown in FIGURE 2.

It is also to be recognized that the pivot element 30 may take other shapes which permit assembly of the hinge by a sequence including engagement with one depression 24, alignment with the other depression 16, as shown in FIGURE 2, and then rotation to a position as shown in FIGURE 3 for operation as an interconnecting pivot element. An egg-shaped pivot element, for example, would be a satisfactory alternate for this use.

The pivot element 30 of th preferred embodiment as shown in FIGURE 2 includes a hexagonal hole 41 for receiving a hexagonal tool, such as a standard Allen wrench, in a positive engagement for effecting rotation of the pivot element 30 to the engaged position as shown in FIGURE 3. Other types of construction may be provided to facilitate rotation of the pivot element, such as a screwdriver slot or an outwardly extending turning tab, for example.

The operatively engaged position of the pivot element 30 as shown in FIGURE 3 includes the engagement of the spherical surface, or engagement of the spherical pivot portions 35, 36, with the facing depressions 16, 24 to form a pivotable hinge connection between the juxtaposed hinge portions 14, 20.

The material for the pivot element 30 is a non-resilient material which will not compress or distort to allow removal of the door panel through deformation of the pivot element 30. The material must also be of sufiicient rigidity to permit positive engagement with the hexagonal hole 41 for effecting rotation of the pivot element 30 into the operatively engaged position.

The pivot element 30 may be formed in a metallic material and be fabricated by a die casting or a powder metallurgy process or may be formed of a substantially rigid plastic material by conventional molding practices.

In an alternate embodiment wherein a ball and socket type hinge is used for pivotally joining the fragile panels, for example, a resilient material may effectively be used for the pivot element. In such a construction, the elimination of deformation of the panels during assembly of the hinge is essential and may be a controlling reason for using the hinge system of the instant invention.

To achieve assembly of the hinge structure of the preferred embodiment, pivot element 30 is first engaged at the hexagonal hole 41 by a hexagonal tool and positioned adjacent one of the hinge portions with the spherical surface partially engaged with the depression 24 and with the fiat side 31 of the pivot element 30 substantially parallel to the wall surrounding the depression 24. The pivot element 30 and hinge portion are then moved into alignment with the adjacent cooperative hinge portion 14 along the pivot axis 19.

The hexagonal tool is operated for rotating the pivot element in the direction shown by the arrow 44, for example, to move the spherical pivot portions 35, 36 into operative engagement with the facing depressions 16, 24 of the adjacent hinge portions 14, 20. Thus it is seen that the pivot element 30 is first placed in an inserted position as shown in FIGURE 2 with the flat portion 31 substantially perpendicular to the pivot axis 19 and substantially parallel to the walls of hinge portions 14, 20 and is then rotated approximately 90 degrees so that the longer dimension of the pivot element 30 is substantially parallel to the pivot axis 19 as shown in FIGURE 3.

A retainer member 39 is then engaged with the pivot element 30 to prevent rotation of the pivot element 30 out of the operatively engaged position. The retainer member 39 is a spring member formed by hexagonal material and includes a first substantially straight leg insertable into the hexagonal hole 41 of the pivot element 30. A second leg 46 engages the second fiat portion 40 of the pivot element 30 and may be under tension when in a position as shown in FIGURE 4. A depression may also be included on the fiat 40 of the pivot element 30 so that the retainer member 39 is more positively retained. A loop portion 49 connects the two legs 45, 46 and extends outwardly from the pivot element 30 between the hinge portions 14, 20 as shown in FIGURE 3. The second leg 46 and the loop portion 49 are movable into contact with the walls adjacent the hinge portions upon an attempt to remove the lid 10.

An alternate embodiment of the retainer member would include the addition of a portion on the straight leg for serving as the installation tool. Thus the pivot element 30 could be placed on the extended leg, held in the position as shown in FIGURE 2, rotated to the position as shown in FIGURE 3 by turning the retainer member 39 and then manually pushing the retainer member 39 further into the hexagonal hole 41 for snapping it into the installed position as shown in FIGURE 4.

In normal operation of this hinge structure, the movable door panel 10 is pivotable aboutthe pivot axis 19 and includes relative movement between the hinge portions 14, 20 and the pivot portions 35, 36 of the pivot element 30. In this operation, the pivot element 30 is free to move about this pivot axis 19 and the retainer 39 is free to move in a plane perpendicular to the pivot axis 19. If, however, an attempt is made to remove the movable door panel 10 by the application of force, movement of the loop or second leg portions 49, 46 of the retainer member 39 against one of the hinge portions 14, 20 or wall members attached thereto, prevents further movement and removal of the panel 10.

Proper removal of the door panel 10 or disassemblyof the hinge structure may be accomplished by first removing the retainer member 39 with a small hooked instrument. The hexagonal tool may then be inserted into the hexagonal hole 41 and the pivot element 30 rotated from the position shown in FIGURE 3 to the position shown in FIGURE 2. The pivot element 30 becomes disengaged from the hinge portion 14, for example, so that the movable door panel 10 may be moved so that the alignment of the depression 16, 24 is broken and removal of the pivot element 30 from the hinge portion 20 is facilitated.

Another arrangement for achieving the objectives of the invention includes use of a screw threadable into the pivot element 30, perpendicularly to the fiat 31, for retaining the pivot element 30 in the hinge structure. The width of screw head must be selected to permit assembly between the hinge portions 14, 20. The screw may b used to increase the short dimension of the pivot element 30 to substantially that of the long dimension for permitting free rotative movement of the pivot element between the hinge porions 14, 20 or may extend out between the hinge portions as with retainer 39 to limit pivot element 30 to rotative movement about the pivot axis 19.

Referring again to FIGURE 1, there is shown at the hinge location 29 on the right a spacer 50 engaged with the hinge portion 21 and the pivot element 26. This spacer 50 may be used to provide proper spacing between the cooperating hinge portions so as to achieve predetermined spacing therebetween.

It is therefore seen that the instant invention provides an improved hinge structure that utilizes the advantages of the ball and socket type hinge but rises above prior art to achieve improved installation and retention of the hinge element and movable panel. This construction provides a ball and socket type hinge using nonresilient pivot elements for preventing accidental disassembly and for preventing removal of the lid without first manually manipulating one of the pivot elements to remove the retainer and to rotate the pivot element to the disassembly position.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, these are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation. Changes in form and the proportion of parts, as well as the substitution of equivalents are contemplated, as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention as further defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A hinge structure for pivotally connecting first and second members along a pivot axis comprising: a first hinge portion attached to said first member and a second hinge portion attached to said second member, said first and second hinge portions being in spaced apart juxtaposition at said pivot axis; a pivot element insertable at said pivot axis between said spaced apart hinge portions and movable from the inserted position to a position of operative engagement with said spaced apart hinge portions for effecting pivotal connection between said first and second members; and retainer means engageable with said pivot element for preventing removal of said pivot element from said hinge structure.

2. A hinge structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said p vot element includes a pair of substantially oppositely d 1sposed pivot portions engageable with said hinge portions upon movement of said pivot element to said operative position.

3. A hinge structure for pivotally connecting first and second members along a pivot axis comprising: a first hinge portion attached to said first member and a second hinge portion attached to said second member with each of said first and second hinge portions including a depression at said pivot axis, said first and second hinge portions being maintained in close juxtaposition with said depressions in an open facing relationship; a pivot element having a long dimension and a short dimension and including a pivot portion at each end of said long dimension and further including an installation portion engageable for positioning and rotating said pivot element, said pivot element being insertable between said first and second hinge portions and rotatable from the inserted position to an operatively engaged position with said pivot portions engaged with the facing depressions of said juxtaposed hinge portions at said pivot axis; and retainer means engageable with said pivot element for preventing removal of said pivot element from said hinge structure.

4. A hinge structure as defined in claim 3 wherein said retainer means includes a first portion positively engageable with said pivot element and further includes a second portion extending outwardly from said pivot element between said first and second hinge portions for preventing the rotation of said pivot element from said operatively engaged position.

5. A hinge structure as defined in claim 3 wherein said installation portion defines a hexagonal hole and wherein said retainer means includes a first hexagonal portion engageable with said hexagonal hole and further includes a second portion extending outwardly from said pivot element between said first and second hinge portions for preventing the rotation of said pivot element from said operatively engaged position.

6. A hinge structure as defined in claim 5 wherein said retainer means further includes a third portion frictionally engageable with said retainer element for maintaining said retainer means engaged with said pivot element.

7. A hinge structure as defined in claim 3 wherein said pivot element is in the form of a spherical segment and wherein a fiat side of said spherical segment is positioned substantially perpendicular to said pivot axis upon move ment of said pivot element to said inserted position.

8. A hinge structure as defined in claim 7 wherein sai pivot portions are provided across the diameter of sai spherical segment and wherein the flat on said sphericz segment is substantially perpendicular to said pivot axi when in said inserted position and substantially paralle to said pivot axis when in said operatively engaged pos: tion.

9. A hinge structure as defined in claim 7 wherein sai spherical segment defines a hexagonal hole for positionin and rotating said pivot element and wherein said retaine means is formed with a first hexagonal cross-sectiona portion engageable with the hexagonal hole and furthe includes a second portion extending outwardly from sai pivot element between said first and second hinge p01 tions for preventing movement of said pivot element fron said operatively engaged position.

10. A hinge structure for pivotally connecting first an second members along a pivot axis comprising: a pair 0 spaced hinge portions attached to said first member an aligned along said pivot axis; a second pair of hinge por tions attached to said second member with one hinge por tion positioned adjacent to each of said first pair of hing portions at first and second hinge locations; first pivc means for pivotally interconnecting said first and seconl members at said first hinge location and for maintainin the adjacent hinge portions at said second hinge locatio: in close juxtaposition; second pivot means in the form 0 a nonresilient pivot element having a long dimension an a short dimension and including a pivot portion at eacl end of said long dimension and further including an in stallation portion engageable for positioning and rotatin said pivot element, said hinge portions at said second hing location each having a depression at said pivot axis witl said depressions in a facing relationship, said pivot ele ment being insertable at said pivot axis and rotatabl from the inserted position to an operatively engaged posi tion for engaging said pivot portions with the depres sions of said juxtaposed hinge portions and pivotally inter connecting said first and second members at said secont hinge location; and retainer means positively engageabl with said pivot element for preventing rotation of sail pivot element from said operatively engaged position,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,496,466 6/1924 Jackson 16l7 1,632,116 6/1927 Buss 16l7 2,346,977 4/1944 La Sha 16171 3 2,570,341 10/1951 Hake 16-17l 2,933,016 4/1960 Kunde et al 16171 7 FOREIGN PATENTS 598,927 5/ 1960 Canada.

BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner. 

